30 Best Sacramento Breweries Worth Trying in 2023 [Locals Guide]

We have been scouting out the top breweries in Sacramento since they opened, and we are excited to share our favorites with you.

We are not only huge craft beer fans, but we also live in the Sacramento area.

Some of these spots offer up highly awarded beers, while others offer a perfect destination to enjoy a few pints with friends.

We even included a few taphouses and beer gardens where you can sample the best beers from the entire region.

30 Best Sacramento Breweries in 2023

The Sacramento craft beer scene has been experiencing a boom, and the region is now home to over 80 breweries.

Don’t worry, we picked out the best breweries in Sacramento and included their food offerings, their must-try beers, and if they have outdoor seating options.

We even included their ratings to help you decide which Sacramento brewery to spend your evening sipping on a cold draft beer.

Now pour yourself into this list and start planning your epic day of beer tasting in Sacramento.

1. Track 7 Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 11-15 (depends on location)
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Food trucks Tuesday through Sunday (see schedule)
• Other drink offerings: Wine, N/A beverages

Track 7 Brewing Company was established in 2011 and was named after its original Curtis Park location near the old Western Pacific railroad tracks. 

We regularly frequented their Natomas taproom, which serves as their main production facility where you can watch the brewers in action.

What we love most about this brewery is its commitment to thinking outside the box, with staples in its lineup like Nukin Futz Peanut Butter Porter.

While both locations feature a great lineup of drafts, they offer little ambiance as they are inside warehouses.

They more than makeup for this with great events, including a disc golf putting league and a lineup of food trucks for your beer munchies.

Both brewery taprooms are kid and dog friendly, and the Natomas location has a grass area perfect for the little ones to burn off some steam.

Track 7 offers beer fans the opportunity to taste one-of-a-kind craft brews in a friendly environment where you will want to kick back and order a second round.

This is one of the best breweries in Sacramento you should not miss.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.86
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

2. Bike Dog Brewing Co.

• Beers on tap: 14
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: hot dogs and bratwurst, food trucks, food from Selland’s (Broadway location only)
• Other drink offerings: Wines from Sacramento winery Baker Family Winery next door

Bike Dog Brewing Company is the brainchild of four friends and coworkers passionate about bike riding, dogs, and brewing great craft beers. 

They started with a small brewery in West Sacramento and now have two locations, including a taproom off Broadway near Downtown. 

Their taps are everchanging, with a wide variety of options ranging from hazy IPAs to cream ales, and each visit offers several new selections to choose from.

Our personal favorite is their milk stout, which has a creamy texture and chocolate aromas.

At their new West Sacramento brewery, they serve hot dogs and often have food trucks. 

There is also a branch of Chando’s Tacos where you can score some nachos or a giant burrito to go with your beer.

Their Broadway location offers a fun menu from Selland’s Market Cafe, which is located next door.

If you’re looking for one of the best craft beers in Sacramento, stop by Bike Dog.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.78

3. New Glory Craft Brewery

• Beers on tap: 25+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: Wine, spritzers, N/A beverages

New Glory Craft Brewery was established in 2012 and has been serving highly-rated beers ever since.

After a decade of refining their craft, they now offer a large selection of drafts and service countless restaurant accounts that proudly serve their amazing beer.

When we first visited, we didn’t know what to expect as the brewery is located in an industrial area south of Highway 50. 

We were pleasantly surprised by the friendly and knowledgeable staff that were eager to help us find the perfect selection for our tastes. 

Our personal favorite was their Citra Dream, which is a hazy IPA that features tropical fruit notes that had us daydreaming about a day at a beach.

A family-owned small business, New Glory strives to use only the finest hops in their brews by sourcing directly from the hop farmers. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.92

Local Tip: Check their calendar to see what food trucks will serve up grub at the brewery and other events like corn hole tournaments. 

4. New Helvetia Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 10+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: Kombucha

New Helvetia Brewing Company is a community-centered Sacramento microbrewery that endeavors to uphold Sacramento’s brewing traditions.

The brewery was named after the original settlement founded by John Sutter in 1839, the Neuva Helvecia Colonia, which predates the Gold Rush.

We love this brewery for its quaint and intimate indoor seating area, which offers a perfect location to meet up with friends for a good conversation over a few drafts.

They offer a good range of beers, from their Buffalo Helles-style lager to the Thunder Beast IPA, which pays tribute to the Buffalo Brewing Company that shuttered in the 70s.

Our favorite of their lineup is the 916 Pale Ale, which delivers a punch of hop aromas without an overly bitter flavor.

New Helvetia usually has food trucks on weekends, but you can grab a chiliburger from Willie’s Burgers down the street to sop up some suds.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.68

5. Ruhstaller Brewery

• Beers on tap: 12+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Food trucks every Tues-Sun at The Farm in Dixon
• Other drink offerings: Seltzer waters and Kombucha

This brewery is named after Captain Frank Ruhstaller, Sacramento’s Pioneer Brewer, who first crafted his first beer around 1865.

The Brewery’s slogan, “We Grow Beer,” is in reference to its commitment to growing the hops used to make its beer.

Sacramento was once the hop-growing capital of the United States, and they carry on this tradition at their farm brewery outside the town of Dixon. 

This Dixon location in the only outdoor brewery in Sacramento, where you can sip on a cold draft next to the hop trellises while listening to live music inside a charming barn. 

We also love their Downtown Sacramento brewery on K Street, just blocks from DOCO.

They offer a rotation of sixteen drafts ranging from experimental wine grape and beer combinations to classics like their famous 1881 Red Ale.

This downtown location is situated in the basement and offers a laid-back but upscale feel, but we love sitting on the patio, which is situated next to the walking street. 

This is the only small brewery in downtown Sacramento, and they are within walking distance of the Kings basketball arena and many of the best hotels in Sacramento.

No matter which location you visit, make sure you order a Guilt Edge Lager, the beer that started it all.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.64

LOCAL TIP: If you visit the Ruhstaler Farm in October, you can also check out one of pumpkin patches in the area with one of the largest corn mazes.

6. Device Brewing Co.

• Beers on tap: 10-17 (depends on location)
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: small plates, salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees
• Other drink offerings: Wine, Hard Seltzer, N/A beverages

Device Brewing Company started as a humble “nano-brewery” that used makeshift fermenters and now showcases a custom twin 20-barrel brewhouse. 

Their beers are sold in more than 2,500 retail and restaurant accounts and are commonly found on the list at many restaurants and taphouses.

Established in 2013, Device resulted from a career shift by then engineer Ken Anthony after accepting his wife’s challenge of brewing an imperial stout that was as good as an AleSmith Speedway Stout.

Device now owns and operates two other brewpubs in Sacramento, including a taphouse at the ICE Blocks, a taphouse at the brewery, and a full restaurant at their location in the Pocket area.

Most of their year-round lineup consists of various IPAs, but they make an excellent Blond Ale called “Kid Casual.”

Our favorite of their flagship beers is the Integral IPA, which dances a fine line of balancing the bitterness, which allows the malty flavors to shine through.

Some of the brewery’s best work is their seasonal beers, where they push the boundaries with unique offerings like a toasted rice lager and a salted caramel porter.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.78

7. At Ease Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 10+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: No

At Ease Brewing Company was founded by a retired Army Colonel who turned his attention to crafting great beer.

Somehow, they managed to make this Midtown Sacramento space into an Army-themed brewery that lives up to its namesake.

We found the space and the environment to be a kick-back and relaxing place to hang out for a few pints.

All their beers on tap during our visits have been very good, but we highly recommend their exceptional sours.

They also have a nice covered outdoor patio where you can hang out and enjoy a pint and some grub from one of the rotating food trucks.

This small brewery is a nice addition to the neighborhood, with tasty suds and friendly and thoughtful service.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

8. Jackrabbit Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 30+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Food truck on Wed-Sun
• Other drink offerings: Soda, sparkling water

The Jackrabbit Brewing Company is a nano-brewery in Sacramento that offers a diverse selection of beers on tap.

The four brewers that founded Jackrabbit craft beer with roots firmly planted in the old world but also add playful twists and thoughtful variations that are sure to excite beer geeks.

We personally love it when they have any of their English-style ales on draft as they take us back to our visits to the UK.

For gluten-sensitive people, Jack Rabbit is one of the only places to find a wide selection of gluten-reduced craft beers in Sacramento, ranging from a Belgium trippel to a dry Irish stout.

This is one of the Sacramento breweries that features lots of fun events, from live music to trivia nights. 

They also have a patio where you can snack on some grub from one of the food trucks that set up shop.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.69

9. Porchlight Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 10+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: Hard Cider

This East Sacramento brewery offers up a perfect neighborhood environment for friends to come together for a few pints.

The small space is quaint and comfortable, and the staff made us feel like we have been regulars for many years.

Porchlight Brewing does not have a huge lineup of taps to choose from, but the beers they do serve are of high quality.

The best beer they had on offer during our last visit was the Whenever’s Clever dry-hopped Saison which was perfectly refreshing.

What we love most about this brewery in Sacramento is that they divert away from just offering IPAs and sours, with options ranging from porters to rice lagers.

This makes this a great place to order a flight, as you can try several different styles.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

10. High Water Brewing (former Tower Brewing)

• Beers on tap: 16
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings:  food trucks
• Other drink offerings: Seltzers, N/A beverages

Highwater Brewing is based in the Lodi wine region, but they make some seriously good beer with high ratings and have a loyal following.

Luckily for the capital city beer fans, they opened a taproom in the former Tower Brewing location in East Sacramento. 

When they moved in, they brought their amazing lineup of beers, but they started brewing Tower Brewing’s Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale to keep the legend alive.

The taproom offers a great neighborhood feel, with a nice outdoor patio to enjoy the gorgeous Sacramento weather with the breezes that come off the nearby American River.

Our favorite beer they offer on draft is their Campfire Stout which will make you crave a S’more.

For double IPA lovers, order a pint of Hop Logic, which offers a perfect balance of hoppy aromas with a bitter finish.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.74

Sacramento Breweries with Food

If you’re looking for breweries in Sacramento with food, then this is the list you’re looking for.

While the most of breweries above have scheduled rotating food trucks, these breweries have a kitchen on-site with a bigger menu selection.  

11. Alaro Craft Brewery

• Beers on tap: 10+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Spanish-style tapas, pub-style entrees, soups & salads, seafood tins
• Other drink offerings: Full bar

Alaro Craft Brewery takes its craft seriously, and they keep producing medal-winning beers at some of the most respected beer competitions. 

This is anything but a typical brewery experience, as you will be served by a professional and knowledgeable staff that knows beer.

Alaro is as much a full-service restaurant as a brewery, with a full menu featuring tapas and small bites along with more substantive offerings like burgers and fish and chips.

The menu offerings feature chef-driven cuisine that is nicely plated and designed to pair with their lineup of beers.

We really enjoyed our visits to this amazing brewery for those nights when we wanted to go out for a beer but also wanted to be treated to a full-service experience.

If you love IPAs, this brewery excels at producing these hop monsters, and we particularly recommend The Avenida, which isn’t overly bitter and has amazing aromatics.  

• Pet Friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.69

12. King Cong Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 12+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Pizza, hot sandwiches, salads
• Other drink offerings: Hard kombucha, cider, hard seltzer

King Cong Brewing Company has been a nice addition to the Sacramento beer scene since its inception in 2017.

They set up shop in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood and have been drawing in crowds for their excellent brews ever since.

Their line-up of beers focuses on hop monsters, including IPAs and Pale Ales, which are the top sellers in the Sacramento market, but they do offer enough alternatives to keep it interesting.

While we do not visit this area of Sacramento very often, when we do, it’s to try some of their freshest releases on draft. 

Our favorite that we have tried is their La Xingona, a triple IPA brewed with guava, which balances the hop aromas.

This is another brewery that gets the concept of serving good pizza with even better beer.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

13. Fieldwork Brewing Company

• Beers on tap: 25+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: appetizers, salads, pizza
• Other drink offerings: wine, sodas

Fieldwork Brewing Co. is a Berkeley-based brewery established in 2015 that has quickly grown into a craft beer community favorite with seven other outposts in California. 

With fresh releases coming one after another, it’s often remarked that you’ll never taste the same beer twice when you visit any of their taprooms. 

Fieldwork is a serious contender for the best brewery on this list, with a strong emphasis on IPAs that are assertive but nicely balanced.

Don’t fret if you are not a hop fanatic, as they also offer a strong list of beers that range from lagers to sours.

We love Fieldwork’s location in the Handle District where you will find some of Sacramento’s best coffee shops, wine bars, and restaurants for group outings or a date night. 

The kitchen puts out some tasty appetizers and pizzas to go with your pints that can be enjoyed on their large patio on one of the most fun blocks in the city.

Fieldwork Brewing is also one of our favorite Monterey breweries to visit whenever we are out for a road trip down the coast. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.97

14. Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse

• Beers on tap: 20+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: small bites, smoked meats, burgers & sandwiches, salads, kids’ menu
• Other drink offerings: Wine, cider

Urban Roots features a simple concept of great beer and smokehouse-style grub in a hip environment that encourages folks to relax and stay for a bit.

The space is open with large communal tables where you can meet up with or make new friends over a couple of pints.

Our favorite is the large covered outdoor patio with picnic benches, which offers a perfect place to get your fingers dirty eating a pile of delicious pork belly burnt ends.

The daily tap offerings can be quite diverse, with everything from a Kolsch-style ale to dessert stouts.

Our go-to, when on the list, is their Tomorrow’s Verse Saison, a refreshing beer that cuts through the richness of their smoked meats.

Parking may be a little tricky as there is only limited street parking, so take a rideshare and give your designated driver the night off.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.97

15. Oak Park Brewing Co.

• Beers on tap: 14
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: small plates, salads, burgers & sandwiches, vegan sandwiches, soup, kids’ menu
• Other drink offerings: coffee, tea, sodas, wine, champagne

Housed inside a brick building, Oak Park Brewing Co. has a modern but vintage feel that is both comfortable and easygoing. 

Aside from a good beer selection on tap, they also serve a full menu of classic pub grub and a few options for the vegan crowd.

Oak Park Brewing Co. also serves up a solid brunch if you want to start your weekend early with a cold pint.

Our favorite beer of the mainstays of their lineup is Mystic Cloud Hazy IPA, which offers up gentle citrus notes and a nice bite of hoppy aromas.

If you are looking for a good spot to relax on a patio away from the midtown area, this is a great spot for some pints with friends.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.64

16. Drake’s Brewing Company @ The Barn

• Beers on tap: 28
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: salads, pizza, flatbread, dessert, and kids’ menu; they also have guest food trucks
• Other drink offerings: Full bar

This San Leandro Brewery opened this outpost in West Sacramento at The Barn as a gathering place for the community. 

This is also a popular place to pre-game before heading next door to watch the Sacramento Rivercats baseball team. 

While Drake’s Brewing will never be confused with a microbrewery, the fun venue makes for a perfect destination for group hangouts, as they offer something for every taste.

Not only do they have 28 beers on draft, but they also feature cocktails, cider, wine, and boozy slushie frozen drinks.

We like that they also have plenty of food options ranging from pizzas to a lineup of visiting food trucks.

This is one of our go-to spots on summer evenings when we want to meet up and enjoy drinks with friends. 

Don’t miss out on ordering a bottle of any of their limited-release or barrel-aged beers, which are worth a trip to West Sacramento.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.83

17. Golden Road Brewing Sacramento

• Beers on tap: 10
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: burgers, loaded fries, vegan and regular tacos, pub pretzels, and salads
• Other drink offerings: sodas, wine, cider

This large Los Angeles brewery opened its taproom in Midtown Sacramento in 2018, and they have been packed ever since.

While Golden Road Brewing will never be mistaken for the best brewery in Sacramento by beer aficionados, they do offer some tasty beer, including fruit-infused options that are perfect on a hot day.

What we like most about this brewery is that they have one of the best outdoor patios in the region, which embraces the city’s small tree-covered streets.

They also feature a full kitchen with a wide range of offerings, from crispy avocado tacos to carnitas fries.

This brewpub in Sacramento is a perfect place to hang out and enjoy those wonderful Sacramento summer evenings. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

More Breweries in Sacramento (Beer Gardens + Tap Houses)

Why choose one brewery when you can have several to pick from all in one location?

Sacramento is home to some great beer gardens and taphouses that showcase the local brewing talent at breweries across the region.

The best Sacramento beer gardens offer a perfect opportunity to do some beer tasting in Sacramento while supporting the local brewing community.

18. Pangaea Bier Cafe

• Beers on tap: 20+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Pub bites, salads, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, soft pretzels
• Other drink offerings: sodas, N/A beverages

Pangaea Bier Cafe, located at Franklin Boulevard, not only has over 20+ beers available on tap, but they also have over a hundred different bottles of beer in their bottle shop. 

This taphouse is well known for its commitment to sourcing the best kegs and bottles they can get their hands on from the most celebrated breweries.

Pangaea is a perfect destination for serious beer geeks that also want a place to hang out and eat some tasty food.

Add the fact that Pangaea is home to Sacramento’s 3x Burger Battle Champion, which is worth a visit on its own.

The tap list will pull at the heartstrings of even the biggest beer aficionados with offering from Allagash Brewery to Belgium producers like St. Bernardus Brewery. 

Come enjoy a burger and a pint, and grab a few bottles to take home.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

19. SacYard Community Tap House

• Beers on tap: 24
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: pizza, rotating on-site food trucks, pop-ups
• Other drink offerings: Wine, cider, hard kombucha, craft N/A beverages

SacYard Community Taphouse is located in what used to be an automotive garage that is now one of the best options for enjoying a pint in Sacramento.

Sacyard’s biggest draw is its 3,800 square-foot beer garden, where you can lounge out by the fire pit or meet new friends at their covered communal tables. 

This is our go-to spot for a night out, but we especially love visiting for Jazz nights on Wednesdays and for All-day Happy Hour on Tuesdays when the atmosphere is extra lively. 

Their list of drafts is well curated and sourced, with lots of Sacramento microbreweries represented, along with some heavy hitters from California and beyond.

We enjoy the fact that they offer a good selection of beer types ranging from the super popular IPAs to more obscure offerings like a malty Doppelbock. 

If all this is not enough to make get you excited, we should also mention that they serve a true 20oz pint instead of the industry standard 16oz. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

20. Der Biergarten

• Beers on tap: 32
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Sausages and hot dogs, Belgian waffle sandwiches, schnitzel
• Other drink offerings: Cocktails, hard kombucha

Der Biergarten considers itself Sacramento’s first and only true beer garden, and they do it right with giant steins of beer and schnitzel the size of your head.

This is a 100% outdoor experience, with heat lamps for warmth during the winter and a canvas covering with misters for the hot summer.

What we like the most about this biergarten is that they have the largest selection of German draft beers in Northern California.

This is a special treat, as these celebrated German beers ranging from Hefeweizen to Maibock, are rarely found at most taphouses.

They also offer up a well-rounded selection of 32 taps, with some of the best beer in Sacramento, including West Coast IPAs for the loyalists.  

Der Biergarten also offers up some tasty food, including sausages that are brought in from Sacramento’s top German butcher and “Belgies”, which are sandwiches stuffed inside a waffle. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

21. Hop Gardens

• Beers on tap: 23
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: pizzas, snacks, salads, subs
• Other drink offerings: Wine, N/A beverages

The Hop Gardens is a locally owned and family-run establishment that serves Neopolitan-style pizza baked in a traditional Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven. 

The concept is simple, make great pizza and serve a list of carefully curated draft beers from the best producers.

The lineup is consistently one of the best in the region, with plenty of options that will satisfy even the biggest beer enthusiasts.

We enjoy visiting this taphouse because of its great outdoor seating, which offers a laid-back vibe perfect for meeting up with friends.

They also have indoor seating for those summer days when the temperature jumps up into the triple digits. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes

22. Capitol Beer And Tap Room

• Beers on tap: 20
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: no kitchen, pretzels, and chips available in the bottle shop
• Other drink offerings: NA beverages like soda and bottled water

Capitol Beer and Tap Room has long been a fixture in the craft brewing scene in Sacramento and is the go-to place for serious beer geeks and local brewers.

Before the craft beer boom hit Sacramento, this small taphouse and bottle shop was serving the best beer from around the globe to their discerning customers.

The one thing we love most about Capital Beer and Tap House is that we can choose one of the draft beers on their list or pick out a bottle to open from the attached bottle shop.

While their draft list always offers a great selection, the bottles in their inventory are often very special offerings that can be hard to come by.

The space is very simple as they invest their energy in offering great service and an epic beer selection. There is also a nice outdoor patio for relaxing when the weather is pleasant.

It’s important to note that they do not serve prepared food, which means that you will need to leave your kids at home as their license prohibits patrons under 21 years old.

Come for a pint, and grab a few bottles for a special occasion or to share with friends.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: No

Breweries near Sacramento

23. Out of Bounds Brewing Company (Folsom, CA)

• Beers on tap: 12
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: pub appetizers, entree-size salads, gourmet burgers, flatbreads, tacos
• Other drink offerings: Full bar

Out of Bounds Brewing Company is a popular destination in the city of Folsom, with an atmosphere that is as good as its beer.

This brewery is, without a doubt, the best option on this list when it comes to its facilities, which are closer to a classic restaurant than the typical warehouse model.

The indoor seating area is homey and comfortable, with a large leather sofa and great bar seating where you can watch a big game.

We never sit inside when we visit as the outdoor area is the star of the show with Adirondack chairs and plenty of trees. They even have bocce ball courts and fire pits.

The head brewer knows his craft, and it shows in the diverse selection of beers that they feature on their list ranging from bourbon barrel-aged ales to fruited sours.

Our favorite beer we tried from our multiple visits is their Caramel Super Stout, which features chocolate and coffee aromas.

This brewery has something for everyone, including a full bar, a restaurant style menu, and they even have a kids menu. 

This a great spot to hang out after a day of kayaking or paddling a SUP at Lake Natoma.

• Pet Friendly: No (service animals only)
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.67

24. Fort Rock Brewing (Rancho Cordova)

• Beers on tap: 10+
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Food delivered from the Old Spaghetti Factory

Fort Rock Brewing started got its start in a garage as a homebrew project for a group of friends that love craft beer.

Flash forward to today, and this brewery now has a great facility in the old Natomas Winery building and a gold medal from the California State Fair commercial beer competition.

The taproom and brewery are situated inside a large warehouse with plenty of comfortable seating and tables to hang out with friends for a few pints.

On our visit to the brewery, we tried out several of their beers, and our favorite was the Foggy Goggles, which is a double IPA with subtle citrus aromas.

Their Folsom Dam Good Pilsner is the flagship of their lineup and is perfect for those hot summer days in the Sacramento Valley.

This is a perfect stop to grab a four-pack before heading to any of the lakes near Sacramento from Folsom to Lake Tahoe.

• Pet friendly: Yes 
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.78

LOCAL TIP: If visiting in October, check out one of the Sacramento haunted houses in the area for a fun spooky night.

25. Big Sexy Brewing Company (South Sacramento)

• Beers on tap: 12
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: Occasional food trucks
• Other drink offerings: Hard seltzer, beer floats

Big Sexy Brewing Company offers up some consistently delicious beers that have racked up some serious hardware at big beer competitions. 

They may be located inside an industrial park away from the city, but beer aficionados make the trek to taste their latest offerings on tap.

Outside of some great beers, this brewery knows how to keep patrons entertained with arcade games, foosball, and corn hole leagues and tournaments.

We love to kick off our weekends at the brewery for live music on Friday nights when the energy picks up in the outdoor seating area.

The lineup of draft options has a strong presence of IPAs, but the brewers make sure to keep it interesting with some crisp lagers and pilsners, along with some darker options.

Our favorite was their Call of Lupulhu, which is a double stout with pleasant aromas of vanilla.

If you decide to make a trip out to the brewery, you won’t be disappointed.

• Pet friendly: Yes 
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.76

26. Burning Barrel Brewing Company (Rancho Cordova, CA)

• Beers on tap: 20
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: schedule food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: Soda, beer slushies

Burning Barrel Brewing Company is located in the Barrel District in Rancho Cordova and is operated by a father-and-son tandem that knows how to brew some great beers. 

We first tried one of their beers at Pour Decisions Taproom while testing out the local breweries in San Jose.

While this brewery makes a lot of great beers in many styles, they are best known for their sours, which are often infused with interesting and thoughtful combinations of ingredients like marshmallows and pineapple. 

The brewery is located inside a warehouse in an industrial area, but the space is warm and inviting, with communal-style table arrangements and a large mural on the wall.

We do not often visit Rancho Cordova, but it is worth the trip to grab a pint of their Juice Authority IPA, which is aromatic with orange notes and a creamy texture.

This is a perfect spot to kick off a brewery crawl through the Barrel District, as you should always start with the best.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 4.03

27. Tilted Mash Brewing Company (Elk Grove)

• Beers on tap: 16
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: in-house food truck serving Latin cuisine (Thursday to Sunday)
• Other drink offerings: No

Like many other breweries in the region, Tilted Mash got its start as a home brew operation that started off in the garage brewing up batches for friends and celebrations.

They now operate a small commercial brewery and are putting out some best beer in Elk Grove and beyond.

While the brewery is still fairly new to the scene, having turned three years old in April 2023, they serving up a lineup of beers that are mature beyond their years.

This especially shows up when they offer up any of their barrel-aged beers, from stouts to farmhouse sours.

Our favorite was their Summer in the Grove pale ale, which manages to have plenty of character, but goes down easy.

The brewery offers up games, including foosball and shuffleboard, and they host live music and an in-house food truck that features Latin-inspired fusion cuisine.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.82

28. Moksa Brewing Company (Rocklin, CA)

• Beers on tap: 21
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: snacks, scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: sodas

Moksa Brewing Company, located just 25 minutes from Sacramento is known as one of the best in the region for their award-winning beers.

Established in 2017, the Moksa team is committed to separating itself from the typical and traditional while exploring a new path for modern craft brewing.

This shows up in beers like their Immoderation, which is a double pastry stout that pushes to the edge of the alcohol content, which accentuates its sweetness.

Our favorite is their Summerthyme Kolsch ale with lemon and thyme, which adds an interesting twist to an often overlooked beer style.

Their rotating draft options offer great styles for a wide range of tastes, from bright, crisp pilsners to hazy triple IPAs.

If you make your way up to Granite Bay, you will be rewarded with a super relaxed place to enjoy some great beers and food from the food trucks that set up shop. 

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 4.16

29. Knee Deep Brewing Company (Auburn, CA)

• Beers on tap: 17
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: schedule food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: none

Knee Deep Brewing Company is a family-owned microbrewery established in 2010, that is now a major player in the craft beer scene. 

Operation and growth were slow and steady, and because of the beer quality they produce, they have received numerous awards at local and international events. 

We first tried their beer after we saw one of their IPAs at a major grocery store near our home. It was delicious, and we knew we needed to head to Auburn to try out their other beers.

It turns out that they produce an excellent, well-rounded lineup of beers ranging from Citra, which is an extra hopped IPA, to Tanilla, which is a vanilla porter.

Knee Deep’s indoor and outdoor seating is big enough to host larger groups and is equipped with games and sports simulators that are fun for the whole family. 

This is a great brewery to check out after a day of hiking or hanging out by the river at the Auburn State Recreation area.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 3.89

30. Moonraker Brewing Company (Auburn, CA)

• Beers on tap: 18
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Food offerings: scheduled food truck visits
• Other drink offerings: none

Established in 2016, Moonraker Brewing Company is not only committed to crafting the best beers using the finest of ingredients, but they are also committed to operating an entirely environment-friendly facility. 

In fact, they power their entire brewing operation and taproom using only solar panels with enough juice to make their beer.

They are also really good at brewing beer. They consistently offer up some of the best IPAs in the entire region with near-legendary options like their Electric Lettuce, a delicious double hazy India Pale Ale.

What we love about this brewery is that they offer a super chill space to hang out while drinking their amazing beer.

The inside area is nestled up with their brewing barrels, where you can see them working hard at perfecting their craft.

There is also a nice patio with a permanent cover where you can grab some grub from one of the food trucks that swing through.

If you are an IPA fan, put this brewery at the top of your list.

• Pet friendly: Yes
• Family/Kid-Friendly: Yes
• Untappd Rating: 4.12

Sacramento Breweries Map

You can view this interactive map of the best breweries in Sacramento here.

Sacramento Brewery Tour

If you want to taste some of the best beers in Sacramento, then why not consider going on a brewery tour.

You can join this fun bike brewpub tour where you pedal your way through Sacramento’s best brewpubs.

Or you can join this Brew Your Own Tour, which is an excellent way for you and your group to visit and sample the best of the Sacramento area breweries. 

The tour allows you to visit 3 to 6 breweries in four hours that you can customize based on your preferences. 

Sacramento Beer Train

The Sacramento Beer Train is a 2.5-hour experience that provides each guest with eight tastings of local craft beers while enjoying a scenic ride along Sacramento’s railroad tracks. 

Light snacks and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased on board, so bringing outside food and drinks is strictly prohibited. 

This experience is only for 21 years and older and costs each person $74, while tickets for your designated driver are at a discounted rate of $39.

Wrap-Up: Best Breweries in Sacramento, CA

Now it’s your turn to taste your way through the best Sacramento Breweries with an epic evening of beer tasting and some tasty pub bites.

Sacramento and the surrounding region are getting a lot of attention for their commitment to their craft, and it’s backed up by some very high ratings and plenty of gold medals at international beer competitions.

Now, get your friends together and go support these amazing brewers that love bringing the community together.